OPENING GENERAL SESSION: Remarks from MBA Leadership

William Kooper, MPA

Vice President of State Governmental Affairs and Industry Relations, Mortgage Bankers Association

William Kooper is Vice President of State Government Affairs and Industry Relations at the Mortgage Bankers Association and in that capacity leads MBA's advocacy efforts at the state and local level as well as MBA's engagement with mortgage banking associations across the country. William is responsible for the MBA State Legislative and Regulatory Committee, staffs the State Association Relations Committee and leads the State Relations Initiative -- MBA's program to partner with state associations to align business development, communications and advocacy interests.

Robert D. Broeksmit, CMB

President & Chief Executive Officer, Mortgage Bankers Association

Robert (Bob) Broeksmit is President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Bob is a senior finance executive and corporate officer with a 35-year career in the mortgage sector. He has directed all aspects of lending activities, including marketing, sales, operations, secondary marketing, loan servicing, and default management. He has also served as a mortgage underwriting expert testifying on many large, high-profile cases. Prior to joining MBA in 2018, Bob served as President and Chief Operating Officer with Treliant, heading the firm’s mortgage litigation support practice and serving diverse financial services clientele including large banks, independent mortgage lenders, community banks, credit unions, and service providers to the mortgage industry. As a Washington-based financial services consultancy, Treliant’s mortgage practice included strategic advisory for executive management and corporate boards; litigation defense, including file reviews, litigation strategy, expert reports, and expert testimony; CFPB examination preparation and implementation of mortgage regulations promulgated by the CFPB and other regulators; and operational aspects of mortgage banking, ranging from origination to servicing and loss mitigation. Before Treliant, Bob held senior leadership positions in the mortgage business, including fourteen years with Chevy Chase Bank (including after its purchase by Capital One), where he was Executive Vice President and President of its B.F. Saul Mortgage Company subsidiary. Bob also was a Vice President at Prudential Home Mortgage for seven years. He has overseen annual originations of $9 billion, a balance sheet of $10 billion in residential mortgages, and a servicing portfolio of $20 billion. He also held positions at Great Western Mortgage, Krupp Residential Mortgage, and The Money Store. Bob has served as the Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Residential Board of Governors and as a member of its Board of Directors. Firms under his leadership have garnered multiple awards for servicing operations excellence, including Freddie Mac’s Tier One and Hall of Fame designations. He is a Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) and a graduate of Yale University.

Bob Niemi, CMB

Director of Government Affairs, Weiner Brodsky Kider PC

Experienced mortgage leader of 25 years who served as Executive Director of the Ohio MBA, Ohio Dept Superintendent & NMLS Ombudsman. Proud CMB since 2016 now serving as the CMB Society Vice Chair. Privileged to work with the WBK team that sets the standard for mortgage regulatory compliance, examination survival, ACN & NMLS filings, acquisitions and joint ventures as well as experience on-site examination support and survival. I am a frequent speaker, mentor, trainer and co-author of MBA Compliance Essentials Temporary Authority for Mortgage Loan Originators and coordinator of MBA Remote Work Model Language. MBA Florida Ambassador, Mortgage Banking Bound instructor, AARMR Industry Advisory Council Chair, VP of the MBA of Florida & Florida CMB Society Co-Chair. All this, but Not an Attorney